The best Franken-group ever

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flyingporkpies
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The best Franken-group ever

Postby flyingporkpies » Tue Dec 01, 2009 12:49 pm

I have posted this here because there is likely to be more collective parts experience than anywhere else.
If you could spec a road bike with parts from any year and any group what would be the best collective parts list ever designed? Aesthetics and function in perfect harmony, so good they broke the mould sort of stuff. Let's pretend the groups from different companies and different speeds are compatible.
Best speed (single to 11)?
Best shifters?
Best brakes?
Best Cranks?
Best rear derailleur?
Best front derailleur?
Best headset?
Best hubs?
Best rims and spokes?
Best cassette?
Best chain?
Other best bits?

Torana68
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby Torana68 » Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:17 pm

Best speed (single to 11)? Sturmey archer 3 or 2 fixed (flip flop)
Best shifters? the early triangle Sturmey Archer one (cause it looks good)
Best brakes? JEM
Best Cranks? Any fluted chrome steel
Best rear derailleur? cyclo
Best front derailleur? front what
Best headset? TDC, or the early BSA with cotter pin and oiler hole
Best hubs? Campagnolo , VEW or Harden
Best rims and spokes? any wood, 15/17 spokes
Best cassette? any AC/DC, Radiators , Rose Tatoo etc
Best chain? 1" skip link
Other best bits? an Olympic bell, carbide lamp maybe :lol:
Last edited by Torana68 on Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:33 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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im_no_pro
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby im_no_pro » Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:19 pm

flyingporkpies wrote: Other best bits?
Spokie dokes :lol: 8)
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spirito
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby spirito » Tue Dec 01, 2009 2:47 pm

IN MY Opinion ....


Best speed? 12 ... 4 more gears than you really need but plenty of options for most any terrain and riding style

Best shifters? Simplex retro-friction - look good and the only ones that work perfectly every time

Best brakes? Any old fashioned centrepull (prolly Mafac) with good modern pads and modern "campy style" Tektro aero levers

Best Cranks? Stronglight 49d - stylish and a mind numbing array of chainring options

Best rear derailleur? I hate to say it but any long cage modern derailleur works better than the old stuff - but in a pinch I'd opt for a Suntour V-GT

Best front derailleur? Suntour Spirt !!! Silly name, cheap, reverse action and can handle a 32/48 easy - what's not to like?

Best headset? ... IMO the most overrated bike part. Whatever is cheap and shiny and cheap. Properly serviced and adjusted ... any headset is fine.

Best hubs? Toughest choice for me, I'm a hub whore. But for use: classic Campy Record low flange - they never wear out, always smooth and don't steal the show.

Best rims and spokes? Mavic MA2's ... but where d'you get 'em??? In truth .. my happiest moments & finest rides have all been on tubulars (singles). DT spokes please.

Best cassette? I'd be happy with Suntour Winner Pro 6 speed freewheels for life

Best chain? sedis (which became) sachs (which became) sram - evolution of a chain that has no peer

Other best bits? Brooks b17 Narrow, Nitto stems and bars, MKS pedals, Autosol and a dremel tool, Cateye el530, helmets that fit, Woolistic wool jersey's, Banana's & Coca Cola !!!!
Last edited by spirito on Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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WyvernRH
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby WyvernRH » Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:07 pm

Easy!
Complete late model Suntour Superbe Pro 6/7 speed road groupset with large flange 36h hubs (freewheel threaded rear hub of course),
Best looking and best functioning non-indexed gear ever made IMHO
EXCEPT pedals would be Specialized Touring with Christophe toeclips and leather straps and the gear levers would be Simplex Retro-Friction (Loop model)
Mavic MA2 rims,
Sedis chain,
Nitto 44cm randonneur bars,
Brooks Swallow saddle,

Umm, rather looks like that bike over there in the garage.....

Cheers
Richard

silverlight
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby silverlight » Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:39 pm

In my opinion these are my favs -

Best speed - 3-4spd
Best shifters? campagnolo record i think it is with the right dual lever
Best brakes? love the look of monitor speedster though they are crap to use
Best Cranks? chater lea
Best rear derailleur? campagnolo croce d'aune
Best front derailleur? suicide shifter
Best headset? atalet or brampton but any will do
Best hubs? Campagnolo Sheriff or Harden
Best rims and spokes? woods, 15gauge
Best cassette? Regina
Best chain? inch pitch or wipperman
Other best bits? fancy lugs, brooks swallow/sprinter, fancy lugs, chater lea pedals (tommy bar version), fancy lugs, nice stems, fancy lugs
Last edited by silverlight on Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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WyvernRH
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby WyvernRH » Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:10 pm

silverlight wrote:In my opinion these are my favs -

Other best bits? fancy lugs, brooks swallow/sprinter, fancy lugs, chater lea pedals (tommy bar version), fancy lugs, nice stems, fancy lugs
Oh yeah, forgot about fancy lugs, absolute must have! The more baroque the better!

Cheers
Richard

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spirito
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby spirito » Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:10 pm

I can't say how much I enjoy reading other people's responses here.

I wish we were all in a pub somewhere arguing what would be the definitive best parts of all time. We'd probably end up fighting :mrgreen: :P :lol:
Cranky Jim wrote: God did not invent gears. Men invented gears ... because we are not gods.

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il padrone
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby il padrone » Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:40 pm

Best speed (single to 11)? No, no... 14 speed Rohloff - it just keeps on working (wish I had one)
Best shifters? SunTour Barcon
Best brakes? SunTour Superbe
Best Cranks? TA Cyclotouriste - great finish with a huge chainring range
Best rear derailleur? Huret Duopar for wonderful quick shifting pre-indexing
Best front derailleur? Huret Jubilee - marvellously light but coped well with a triple
Best hubs? Sunshine (copies of Campag I think?) terrific finish and super smooth bearings
Best rims and spokes? Anything Mavic, Sun Rhinos
Best cassette? Shimano 5-speed cassette, zero wheel dish
Best chain? Sedisport, Wipperman 908
Other best bits? Any Brooks saddle
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby cludence » Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:31 pm

I like this post as it is interesting to read peoples responses.

I cant think of all of them at the moment and most of mine are on looks more than their function.....

Best Brakes - Monitor Supercam -Not for their stopping power (lack of) but for the workmanship from soooo long ago
Hubs - Vew Continental - Cause they are Aussie and because they do look nice when polished.
Cranks - Chater Lea
Gearing - Ozgear - I can only drool at other peoples. One day I might find some....
Rims - Wood of course. Freebairn would be my dream pair, until then I can only settle with a mismatched pair.
Pedals - I dont recall the brand, but the self aligning pair I have on my tourer are great! Never seen any others like it.
Bars - Kelly Bars of course
Saddle - Brooks swallow
Headset - Alatet
Lugs - Fancy handcut lugs and double fork crowns to match
Bikes- All of Silverlights and Spiritos Debus!
Last edited by cludence on Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby singlespeedscott » Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:57 pm

I think most of my choices are more cosmetic than function but here they are:

Best speed (single to 11)? - fixed or 6 speed
Best shifters? - Simplex retro friction
Best brakes? - Paul components Racer brakes
Best Cranks? - Campagnolo C record Pista
Best rear derailleur? - The early bronze Campagnolo Grand Sport
Best front derailleur? - Early Campy grand sport
Best headset? - Chris King or Campagnolo Record if you want loose balls
Best hubs? - Older Campagnolo Record high flange Pista hubs
Best rims and spokes? - Silver 36 hole Mavic open sport (grandson of MA2) DT champion
Best cassette? - White Industries Uno single speed cog
Best chain? - Izumi track chain.
Other bits? - Brooks B17 narrow in Brown and Professional in black
Image

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drubie
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby drubie » Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:05 pm

I dig 7 and 8 speed, if only because it gives you the greatest flexibility in choosing parts. Your favourite friction shifters will still work, you can choose between cassettes and (a small number) of freewheels.

Best shifters: The original campy ergo 8 speed. Form, function, fantastic.
Best rear der: 8 speed record (wish I had one, mirage works but...).
Best hubs: the low flange campy ones, 1970s screw on rear or the later Shimano 105 ones are bulletproof.
Freewheel: Suntour. Sweet!
Freehub: 8 speed campy, not as noisy as the current ones that sound like a UK footy rattle.
Brakes: I love the look of the Delta brakes, but nothing beats dual pivots for effectiveness.
Cranks: No idea, love the look of the 80s Sugino cranks on my commuter though.
Pedals: Look Delta. The original and best.
Wheels: Mavic or Wolber alloy box rims, but the Super Champion tubulars in the shed look pretty sweet.

(funny how it looks like a list of stuff I own :lol: )
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby stnfldr » Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:25 pm

Best speed: 10spd
Best shifters: shimano dura ace or suntour bar end shifters
Best brakes: suntour superbe pro
Best Cranks: suntour superbe pro
Best rear derailleur: suntour superbe pro
Best front derailleur: suntour superbe pro
Best headset shimano: dura ace
Best hubs: suntour superbe pro high flange
Best rims and spokes: mavic or rigida (tubulars) + DT swiss
Best cassette: shimano dura ace
Best chain: wipperman

So many choice parts, if only I had the $$ to buy them all.

Ben

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flyingporkpies
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby flyingporkpies » Sun Mar 07, 2010 6:08 pm

This inspired me to start another post to actually see these bicycles. For Franken Group appreciation see here: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=24974

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Thoglette
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby Thoglette » Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:44 pm

flyingporkpies wrote:This inspired me to start another post to actually see these bicycles. For Franken Group appreciation see here: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=24974
Must get photos - daytona, centaur, Shimano 600 +105, biopace, sram 10sp cluster, durace chain, brooks, and the beat goes on
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby wqlava1 » Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:12 pm

I noted that a couple of you appreciate the Mavic MA2 rims and one the Wolber box section rims. i actually got some near perfect 27" MA2s with nice Shimano hubs and 6 speed cluster, and some pretty good Wolber 700c rims late last year for $60 or $70 each pair from different sellers up in Sydney. I like them both, but this sounds like I should more like treasure them. What exactly makes you guys think that these are particularly good rims?

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spirito
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby spirito » Thu Mar 18, 2010 1:12 am

wqlava1 wrote:I noted that a couple of you appreciate the Mavic MA2 rims and one the Wolber box section rims. i actually got some near perfect 27" MA2s with nice Shimano hubs and 6 speed cluster, and some pretty good Wolber 700c rims late last year for $60 or $70 each pair from different sellers up in Sydney. I like them both, but this sounds like I should more like treasure them. What exactly makes you guys think that these are particularly good rims?
I can only answer for me but they are a sensible design: double eyeletted, slightly wider (stronger), high polished classic good looks, and a progressive successor to many classic period Mavic high pressure (clincher) rims. Most of all they look pretty good and given that most modern rims don't quite look right on classic bikes it's no wonder classic era rims are becoming quite valuable.
Cranky Jim wrote: God did not invent gears. Men invented gears ... because we are not gods.

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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby wqlava1 » Thu May 20, 2010 12:14 pm

spirito wrote:IN MY Opinion ....





Best rims and spokes? Mavic MA2's ... but where d'you get 'em??? In truth .. my happiest moments & finest rides have all been on tubulars (singles). DT spokes please.


!
On ebay - a NOS pair of MA2s selling this afternoon. I was going to bid but the $$ are running short just now. I'd been looking for ages, too.

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hartleymartin
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Re: The best Franken-group ever

Postby hartleymartin » Thu May 20, 2010 12:25 pm

Best speed (single to 11)? - Sturmey Archer either the AW, FW or single-control S5 (Rohloff 14-speed if anyone could ever afford one)
Best shifters? - Sturmey-Archer's 3/4-speed trigger shifter.
Best brakes? - I'm a fan of centre-pull brakes, but I do also like V-brakes.
Best Cranks? - So much choice
Best rear derailleur? - what now?
Best front derailleur? - what now?
Best headset? - Loose bearing type
Best hubs? See top for rear hub, Any good dynamo front hub.
Best rims and spokes? - Anything made by velocity, DT spokes
Best cassette? - what now?
Best chain? - One with bushings
Other best bits?[/quote] - mudguards, kickstands, carry racks, brooks saddles...
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